Gun box

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a novel carton blank particularly adapted for packaging elongated articles, such as rifles, shotguns and the like, formed from paperstock material provided with a plurality of fold lines about which the blank is folded into a generally tubular configuration defined by a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, and a locating panel in that order, and an aperture in said locating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert profiled in accordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adapted to be packaged in the blank whereby undesired relative movement of the blank and packaged article is precluded by the interlocking engagement provided by the aperture. The aperture in said locating panel is for receiving a projecting boss of the insert, and the profiled portion of the insert is at a side thereof opposite the boss.

United States Soja atent 1 1 1451 July 29, 1975 [73] Assignee:Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: July 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No; 54,254

[52] us. C1. 229/33; 206/4514; 206/317 [51] Int. Cl 865d 5/20; B65d85/00 [58] Field at Search 206/16 R, 46 FR, 45.14,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,265,664 12/1941 Markert229/39 B x 2,487,528 11/1949 Dawson 206/16 R X 2,537,151 1/1951 Mires229/39 B 2,783,929 3/1957 Delaney 229/14 C 3,138,306 6/1964 Bare 206/16R X 3,156,351 11/1964 Small 206/16 R x 3,547,256 12/1970 Bolding 229/39B x Primary Examiner-William I. Price Assistant Examiner-Steven E.Lipman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Wight 7] ABSTRACTThis disclosure relates to a novel carton blank particularly adapted forpackaging elongated articles, such as rifles, shotguns and the like,formed from paperstock material provided with a plurality of fold linesabout which the blank is folded intd a generally tubular configurationdefined by a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel, a secondside; panel, and a locating panel in that order, and an aperture in saidlocating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert profiled inaccordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adaptedto be packaged in the blank whereby undesired relative movement of theblank and packaged article is precluded by the interlocking engagementprovided by the aperture. The aperture in said locating panel is forreceiving a projecting boss of the insert, and the profiled portionofthe insert is at a side thereof opposite the boss.

19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 INVENTOR JOSEPHJ. SDJQ ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUL29 I975 SHEEI R mm INVENTOR ATTORNEYS GUNBOX At present such articles as rifles, shotguns, or similar elongatedarticles having varying profiles at different portions are normallypackaged in paperstock blanks folded to form cartons or boxes normallydefined by opposite end walls, opposite side walls, a bottom wall and atop wall. Barring the provision of some type of means for positivelylocating the packaged articles within the boxes, the normal tendency isfor any particular article to shift with respect to its box duringstorage and/or shipment. Obviously, this is highly undesirable sincedamage to the packaged article will more than likely result and topreclude such damage through the use of a properly designed carton is asmall price to pay to avoid such damage and attendant consumer and- /orretailer complaints.

Moreover, it is readily apparent that such articles as rifles andshotguns are made in various gauges, styles, lengths, etc., andheretofore only a few particular makes and/or styles of rifles and/orshotguns could be packaged in a carton of a particular design. As anexample. the side profile and length of a double-barrel shotgun might besufficiently dissimilar to the length and side profile of a single,bolt-action, 22-caliber rifle as to require a differently designedcarton for packaging each of these articles. Obviously, sincemanufacturers of rifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like normallyproduce innumerable styles, sizes, gauges, etc., any carton which couldaccommodate different ones of such arms would be highly desirable simplyfrom the standpoint of less critical inventory control and less cost bygreater bulk purchasing of fewer designs.

In keeping with the foregoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a novel box or carton blank which when formed intoa carton is ofa universal construction from the standpoint ofaccommodating different articles of varying lengths, styles andprofiles, and particularly such articles as rifles and shotguns. Moreparticularly, the carton constructed in accordance with this inventionincludes in addition to the usual side, end, bottom and top panels, alocating panel having aperture means for interlockingly engaging aprojection or boss of an insert which at a side opposite the boss isprofiled in accordance with the contour of a portion of the particulararticle packaged in the carton whereby undesired relative movementbetween the carton and the packaged article is precluded. Moreparticularly, the profile portion of the insert is in the form of anundulating channel which snugly receives and interlocks with a portionof the packaged article, preferably the area of the cheek-rest in thecase of articles such as rifles and shotguns. However, irrespective ofthe particular area of the packaged article with which the insertchannel is in conformity with, the interlocking relationshiptherebetween, as well as between the boss and the aperture of thelocating panel, assures limited if any movement between the packagedarticle and the novel carton of this invention.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claimed subjectmatter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a novel cartonconstructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates alocating panel provided with an aperture interlockingly receiving a bossof an insert having a lower surface contoured to the profille of anarticle adapted to be positioned therein.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carton of FIG. 1, and illustrates inphantom outline a shotgun with its cheekrest positioned in the profileportion of the insert.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along line 3-3of FIG. 2, and. more clearly illustrates the manner in which the insertis interlocked with the aperture of the locating panel, and anotherportion folded downwardly from the plane of the locating panel to form arest for the gun barrel.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 44 ofFIG. 3, with a portion thereof removed for clarity, and illustrates thegun barrel rest portion more clearly, as well as a stop to limit thefolding of the latter portion toward its most adjacent side wall.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert of FIGS, 1 through 3, andillustrates the manner in which the insert is provided with a channel ina surface opposite the boss or projection for conforming to andinterlocking with the cheek portion of the packaged article.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another insert, and illustrates a slotformed therein for receiving the gun barrel of the packaged article.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the carton of FIGS. 1 through4, and illustrates the insert of FIG. 6 positioned to receive the barrelof a differently designed and/or styled article in the absence of thedownward folding of the gun barrel rest portion of the locating panel.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 88 of FIG. 7, andillustrates the position of the insert within the carton.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a blank from which the carton of thisinvention is constructed, and illustrates the generally rectangularconfiguration thereof, as well as the specific details of the locatingpanel.

Reference is first made to FIG. 9 of the drawings in which a novelcarton blank of this invention which is particularly adapted forpackaging elongated articles, such as rifles, shotguns, and the like, isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 10, and is preferablyconstructed from foldable paperstock, corrugated board, or similarmaterial. The blank 10 is of a generally rectangular configuration, andis defined by longitudinal edge portions ll, 12, and transverse edgeportions 13, 14. The blank 10 further includes a plurality oflongitudinal fold lines 15 through 18, the latter of which isinterrupted by generally shallow U-shaped notches or slits 20, definingtabs 21, and a relatively short longitudinal fold line 22. In view ofthe relatively identical construction of the transverse edge portions13, 14, fold lines 23 through 28 disposed generally normal to the foldlines 15 through 18 have been identically numbered at oppositetransverse edge portions 13, 14. However, as viewed in .FIG. 9, anadditional fold line 30 is provided at the lower left-hand corner of theblank 10.

The various fold lines and edge portions heretofore described define aplurality of body-forming panels 31 through 35.

The body-forming panel 31 is a top panel of the blank 10 and is definedby the transverse fold lines 23, 23, the longitudinal fold line 15, andthe longitudinal edge 11 which is contoured to define a pair ofgenerally T- shaped latching tabs 36, 36. An identical end closure flap37 is joined to the top panel 31 along the fold lines 23, 23.

The body-forming panel 32 defines a side panel of the blank 10 and isdefined by an area between the fold lines 15, 16 and 24, 24. Likewise,end flaps or closure flaps 38, 38 are each joined to oppositelongitudinal ends of the side panel 32 by the fold lines 24, 24.

The body-forming panel 33 defines a bottom panel of the blank 10 and isset off by the longitudinal fold lines 16, 17 and the transverse foldlines 25, 25 which are interrupted by generally rectangular cut-outs oropenings 40, 40.

A closure flap 41 is joined to opposite longitudinal edges of the bottompanel 33 by the fold lines 25, 25, and each closure flap 41 includesthree panel portions 42 through 44, the latter of which is set offbetween a pair of spaced parallel fold lines 45, 46.

The body-forming panel 34 is a side panel and is set off by thelongitudinal fold lines 17, 18, the transverse fold lines 26, 26, andthe slits 20, 20.

Closure flaps 47, 47 are joined to the side panel 34 at the fold lines26, 26.

The body-forming panel 35 defines a locating panel which is defined bythe fold line 18, the longitudinal edge portion 12, and the transversefold lines 27, 27. Joined to the locating panel 35 at each of itstransverse edges by the transverse fold lines 27, 27 is another closureflap 50 defined by flap portions 51, 52 set off from each other by thetransverse fold line 28 which terminates at a generally semi-circularnotch 53 of the longitudinal edge portion 12. The left-handmost closureflap portion 52, as viewed in FIG. 9, additionally includes alongitudinal slit 54 which defines with the fold line 30 a locating orabutment flap 55 which will be described more fully hereinafter.

The locating panel includes means, generally designated by the referencenumeral 60, for interlockingly engaging an insert 61 (FIGS. 3 and havinga lower surface 62 provided with a channel 63 profiled in accordancewith the contour of a cheek-rest portion C (FIG. 2) of an article A(FIG. 2), such as a rifle or shotgun positioned within the carton (FIG.2). The interlocking means is preferably a circular aperture 60 whichreceives a circular boss or projection 64 of the insert 61 projectingabove an upper surface 65 of the insert, in the manner best illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The insert 61 is of a generallyrectangular outline having a height corresponding to the distancebetween the inner surface (unnumbered) of the panels 33, 35, and of awidth corresponding to the distance between the inner surfaces (alsounnumbered) of the side panels 32, 34. With the article A resting uponthe bottom panel 33, as shown in FIG. 2, the profile channel 63 opensdownwardly toward the bottom panel 33 and snugly embraces and interlockswith the cheek portion C. As is readly apparent from FIG. 2, the simi--lar profile between the cheek portion C and the channel 63 preventsrelative movement between the article A and the insert 61, while theinterlocked relationship between the aperture 60 of the locating panel35 and the boss or projection 64 prevents relative movement between thelocating panel 35 and the insert 61. Thus, this dual interlockingbetween the article A, the insert 61, and the locating panel 35 preventsrelative movement between the article A and the carton 10.

It is to be noted that though the projection 64 is preferably circular,as is the aperture 60, this construction could result in the insert 61being positioned in the carton l0 incorrectly if, for example, it werefirst inserted and rotated 180 degrees either clockwise orcounterclockwise from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order toprevent such inadvertent placement of the insert 61 within the carton,the aperture 60 as well as the boss 64 could be contoured other thancircular, as indicated by the dotted and shaded portion of the aperture60 in FIG. 9. If the material of the shaded portion of the locatingpanel 35 were not removed and if a like portion of the boss 64 of theinsert 61 were removed, the boss and aperture would no longer becircular and when interlocked the channel 63 would at all times beproperly oriented as necessary. Thus, the latter and equivalentarrangements for assuring proper orientation of the channel 63 withrespect to the packaged article A is considered to be a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

Reference is again made to FIG. 9 of the drawings wherein the locatingpanel 35 is additionally provided with a pair of generally parallelspaced interrupted cut lines 70, 71 defining therebetween with portionsof slits 72, 73 a locating panel 74. An additional panel 75 is definedbetween portions of the slits 72, 73, and a portion of the longitudinaledge 12. Likewise, a further panel 76 is defined by the fold line 22,the slit 73, a portion of the longitudinal edge 12, and another slit 77parallel to the slit 73. The function of the panels 74 through 76, andthe abutment flap 55 will now be described particularly in regard toFIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the flaps 38, 41, 47 and 50 areillustrated in their normal positions in which the flaps 38, 47 aresandwiched between the flaps 42, 43 with a tab (unnumbered) of thelatter being received in the rectangular opening 40 to maintain theseflaps in assembled relationship. Prior to the folding of the panels 74,75, 76 out of the plane of the locating panel 35, the flap portions 51,52 are folded to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 with the flapportion 52 seated upon the bottom panel 33. The abutment flap 55 isfolded upwardly along the fold line 30. Thereafter the flaps 74, 75 arefolded from the position shown in FIG. 9 to that shown in FIG. 4, as isthe flap 76. As is best illustrated in this figure, the abutment flap 55is sandwiched between the side panel 32 and the panel 74 to prevent thelatter from moving toward the panel 32 when the weight of the gun barrelB (FIG. 2) rests thereupon in the manner best shown in FIG. 2. Thus, thepanel or flap 74 additionally serves as another guiding or locatingsurface for other portion B of the article A.

Though the carton 10, as thus far described, will accommodate articles Aof varying side profiles, lengths,etc., in keeping with a furtherembodiment of this invention, there is additionally provided anotherinsert 80 (FIGS. 6 and 8) of a generally rectangular configuration,again having a length corresponding to the distance between the sidepanels 32, 34, and a height corresponding to the distance between thebottom panel 33 and the locating panel 35. As in the case of the insert61, the insert 80 additionally includes a channel 81 profiled to theconfiguration of another portion of an article A (FIG. 7), which in thiscase is the gun barrel B thereof. In this case it is desirable to morepositively locate the gun barrel B and thus the latter is positionedwithin the channel 81 of the insert 80 without the flaps or panels 74,75 being folded in any manner, and merely being in overlyingrelationship to the upper surface (unnumbered) of the insert 80. Due tothe inclined nature of the channel 61 with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the carton 10, it will be readily apparent from FIG. 7 that theinsert 80 cannot move to the right, and is precluded from moving to theleft thereby additionally serving to accurately locate the barrelportion B of the article A. However, in further keeping with thisinvention, the insert 80 could likewise be provided with a boss,corresponding to the boss 64, while a portion of the locating panel 35between the slit 73 and the fold line 27 can be provided with anaperture corresponding to the aperture 60 to achieve the interlockingheretofore described relative to the insert 61 and the aperture 60.

While preferred forms and arrrangements of parts have been shown inillustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that variouschanges in details and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

1 claim:

1. A carton blank particularly adapted for packaging articles such asrifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a sheet materialblank provided with a plurality of fold lines about which said blank isadapted to be folded into a generally tubular configuration, at leastone of said plurality of fold lines in part sets off a locat ing panel,means defined by said locating panel for interlockingly engaging aninsert profiled in accordance with the contour of at least a portion ofan article adapted to be packaged in said blank whereby undesiredrelative movement of the blank and packaged article is precluded by theinterlocking engagement pro vided by said interlocking means, and aninsert having means for interlockingly engaging the interlocking meansof said locating panel.

2. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said insert isconstructed from synthetic polymeric plastic material.

3. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said insertinterlocking means is a boss projecting into the interlocking means ofsaid locating panel.

4. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said insert includescavity means profiled in accordance with the contour of at least aportion of an article adapted to be packaged in said blank.

5. The carton blank as defined in claim 4 wherein said insertinterlocking means and cavity means are positioned at opposite sides ofsaid insert.

6. A carton blank particularly adapted for packaging articles such asrifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a sheet materialblank provided with a plurality of fold lines about which said blank isadapted to be folded into a generally tubular configuration, at leastone of said plurality of fold lines in part sets off a locating panel,means defined by said locating panel for interlockingly engaging aninsert profiled in accordance with the contour of at least a portion ofan article adapted to be packaged in said blank whereby undesiredrelative movement of the: blank and packaged article is precluded by theinterlocking engagement provided by said interlocking means, saidinterlocking means is an aperture in said locating panel, and an inserthaving means for interlockingly engaging the aperture of said locatingpanel.

7. A carton blank particularly adapted for packaging articles, such asrifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a generallypolygonal sheet material member defined by opposite pairs oflongitudinal and transverse edge portions, a plurality of spaced foldlines in part defining a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel,a second side panel, and a locating panel in that order, means definedby said locating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert profiled inaccordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adaptedto be packaged in said blank whereby undesired relative movement of the:blank and packaged article is precluded by the interlocking engagementprovided by said interlocking means, said locating panel is defined byone of said longitudinal edge portions and an adjacent fold line, saidinterlocking means is disposed to one side of the longitudinal midpointof said locating panel, locating means at the other side of saidmidpoint for locating another portion of the packaged article, saidlocating means is another insert profiled in accordance with the contourof another portion of the article.

8. A carton blank particularly adapted for packaging articles, such asrifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a generallypolygonal sheet material member defined by opposite pairs oflongitudinal and transverse edge portions, a plurality of spaced foldlines in part defining a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel,a second side panel, and a locating panel in that order, means definedby said locating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert profiled inaccordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adaptedto be packaged in said blank whereby undesired relative movement of theblank and packaged article is precluded by the interlocking engagementprovided by said interlocking means, said locating panel is defined byone of said longitudinal edge portions and an adjacent fold line, saidinterlocking means is disposed to one side of the longitudinal midpointof said locating panel, locating means at the other side of saidmidpoint for locating another portion of the packaged article, saidlocating means is a locating panel portion of said locating paneldefined in part by a pair of spaced longitudinally extending fold lines,and said lastmentioned pair of fold lines converge toward the adjacenttransverse edge portion in a direction toward said midpoint of saidlocating panel.

9. The carton blank as defined in claim 8 including an insert havingmeans for interlockingly engaging the interlocking means of saidlocating panel.

10. The carton blank as defined in claim 8 including another locatingpanel portion between said firstmentioned panel portion and saidinterlocking means defined by a pair of transverse cut lines and alongitudinal fold line more closely adjacent a fold line joining saidlocating panel to said second side panel than to an adjacent transverseedge of said locating panel.

11. A carton blank.particularly adapted for packaging articles, such asrifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a generallypolygonal sheet material member defined by opposite pairs oflongitudinal and transverse edge portions, a plurality of spaced foldlines in part defining a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel,a second side panel, and a locating panel in that order, means definedby said locating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert profiled inaccordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adaptedto be packaged in said blank whereby undesired relative movement of theblank and packaged article is precluded by the interlocking engagementprovided by said interlocking means, and an insert having means forinterlockingly engaging the interlocking means of said locating panel.

12. A carton particularly adapted for packaging articles such as rifles,shotguns, hand guns and the like comprising a sheet material blankprovided with a plurality of fold lines about which said blank is foldedinto a generally tubular configuration, at least one of said pluralityof fold lines in part sets off a locating panel, means defined by saidlocating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert in said cartonprofiled in accordance with the contour of at least a portion of anarticle adapted to be packaged therein whereby undesired relativemovement of the carton and article is precluded by the interlockingengagement provided by said interlocking means, another panel in spacedrelationship to said locating panel, and said insert is disposed betweensaid locating and another panel.

13. The carton as defined in claim 12 wherein said locating panelincludes means for orienting the insert for interlocking engagement withsaid interlocking means in but a single relative position of the insertand interlocking means.

14. The carton as defined in claim 12 wherein said interlocking means iscontoured for interlocking engagement with said insert in but a singlerelative position therebetween.

15. The carton as defined in claim 12 including means spaced from saidinterlocking means for locating another insert in said carton profiledin accordance with the contour of another portion of the article adaptedto be packaged in said carton thereby additionally stabilizing apackaged article.

16. The carton as defined in claim 12 wherein said insert is constructedfrom synthetic polymeric plastic material.

17. The carton as defined in claim 12 wherein the article profile ofsaid insert is a cavity opening in a direction toward said anotherpanel.

18. The carton as defined in claim 17 wherein said insert interlockingmeans and cavity means are positioned at opposite sides of said insert.

19. The carton as defined in claim 18 wherein said insert interlockingmeans is a boss projecting into the interlocking means of said locatingpanel, and said lastmentioned locating means is an aperture in saidlocat-

1. A carton blank particularly adapted for packaging articles such asrifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a sheet materialblank provided with a plurality of fold lines about which said blank isadapted to be folded into a generally tubular configuration, at leastone of said plurality of fold lines in part sets off a locating panel,means defined by said locating panel for interlockingly engaging aninsert profiled in accordance with the contour of at least a portion ofan article adapted to be packaged in said blank whereby undesiredrelative movement of the blank and packaged article is precluded by theinterlocking engagement provided by said interlocking means, and aninsert having means for interlockingly engaging the interlocking meansof said locating panel.
 2. The carton blank as defined in claim 1wherein said insert is constructed from synthetic polymeric plasticmaterial.
 3. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said insertinterlocking means is a boss projecting into the interlocking means ofsaid locating panel.
 4. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid insert includes cavity means profiled in accordance with thecontour of at least a portion of an article adapted to be packaged insaid blank.
 5. The carton blank as defined in claim 4 wherein saidinsert interlocking means and cavity means are positioned at oppositesides of said insert.
 6. A carton blank particularly adapted forpackaging articles such as rifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like,comprising a sheet material blank provided with a plurality of foldlines about which said blank is adapted to be folded into a generallytubular configuration, at least one of said plurality of fold lines inpart sets off a locating panel, means defined by said locating panel forinterlockingly engaging an insert profiled in accordance with thecontour of at least a portion of an article adapted to be packaged insaid blank whereby undesired relative movement of the blank and packagedarticle is precluded by the interlocking engagement provided by saidinterlocking means, said interlocking means is an aperture in saidlocating panel, and an insert having means for interlockingly engagingthe aperture of said locating panel.
 7. A carton blank particularlyadapted for packaging articles, such as rifles, shotguns, hand guns andthe like, comprising a generally polygonal sheet material member definedby opposite pairs of longitudinal and transverse edge portions, aplurality of spaced fold lines in part defining a top panel, a firstside panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, and a locating panel inthat order, means defined by said locating panel for interlockinglyengaging an insert profiled in accordance with the contour of at least aportion of an article adapted to be packaged in said blank wherebyundesired relative movement of the blank and packaged article isprecluded by the interlocking engagement provided by said interlockingmeans, said locating panel is defined by one of said longitudinal edgeportions and an adjacent fold line, said interlocking means is disposedto one side of the longituDinal midpoint of said locating panel,locating means at the other side of said midpoint for locating anotherportion of the packaged article, said locating means is another insertprofiled in accordance with the contour of another portion of thearticle.
 8. A carton blank particularly adapted for packaging articles,such as rifles, shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a generallypolygonal sheet material member defined by opposite pairs oflongitudinal and transverse edge portions, a plurality of spaced foldlines in part defining a top panel, a first side panel, a bottom panel,a second side panel, and a locating panel in that order, means definedby said locating panel for interlockingly engaging an insert profiled inaccordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adaptedto be packaged in said blank whereby undesired relative movement of theblank and packaged article is precluded by the interlocking engagementprovided by said interlocking means, said locating panel is defined byone of said longitudinal edge portions and an adjacent fold line, saidinterlocking means is disposed to one side of the longitudinal midpointof said locating panel, locating means at the other side of saidmidpoint for locating another portion of the packaged article, saidlocating means is a locating panel portion of said locating paneldefined in part by a pair of spaced longitudinally extending fold lines,and said last-mentioned pair of fold lines converge toward the adjacenttransverse edge portion in a direction toward said midpoint of saidlocating panel.
 9. The carton blank as defined in claim 8 including aninsert having means for interlockingly engaging the interlocking meansof said locating panel.
 10. The carton blank as defined in claim 8including another locating panel portion between said first-mentionedpanel portion and said interlocking means defined by a pair oftransverse cut lines and a longitudinal fold line more closely adjacenta fold line joining said locating panel to said second side panel thanto an adjacent transverse edge of said locating panel.
 11. A cartonblank particularly adapted for packaging articles, such as rifles,shotguns, hand guns and the like, comprising a generally polygonal sheetmaterial member defined by opposite pairs of longitudinal and transverseedge portions, a plurality of spaced fold lines in part defining a toppanel, a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, and alocating panel in that order, means defined by said locating panel forinterlockingly engaging an insert profiled in accordance with thecontour of at least a portion of an article adapted to be packaged insaid blank whereby undesired relative movement of the blank and packagedarticle is precluded by the interlocking engagement provided by saidinterlocking means, and an insert having means for interlockinglyengaging the interlocking means of said locating panel.
 12. A cartonparticularly adapted for packaging articles such as rifles, shotguns,hand guns and the like comprising a sheet material blank provided with aplurality of fold lines about which said blank is folded into agenerally tubular configuration, at least one of said plurality of foldlines in part sets off a locating panel, means defined by said locatingpanel for interlockingly engaging an insert in said carton profiled inaccordance with the contour of at least a portion of an article adaptedto be packaged therein whereby undesired relative movement of the cartonand article is precluded by the interlocking engagement provided by saidinterlocking means, another panel in spaced relationship to saidlocating panel, and said insert is disposed between said locating andanother panel.
 13. The carton as defined in claim 12 wherein saidlocating panel includes means for orienting the insert for interlockingengagement with said interlocking means in but a single relativeposition of the insert and interlocking means.
 14. The carton as Definedin claim 12 wherein said interlocking means is contoured forinterlocking engagement with said insert in but a single relativeposition therebetween.
 15. The carton as defined in claim 12 includingmeans spaced from said interlocking means for locating another insert insaid carton profiled in accordance with the contour of another portionof the article adapted to be packaged in said carton therebyadditionally stabilizing a packaged article.
 16. The carton as definedin claim 12 wherein said insert is constructed from synthetic polymericplastic material.
 17. The carton as defined in claim 12 wherein thearticle profile of said insert is a cavity opening in a direction towardsaid another panel.
 18. The carton as defined in claim 17 wherein saidinsert interlocking means and cavity means are positioned at oppositesides of said insert.
 19. The carton as defined in claim 18 wherein saidinsert interlocking means is a boss projecting into the interlockingmeans of said locating panel, and said last-mentioned locating means isan aperture in said locating panel.